Glucagon analogues and methods of use

ABSTRACT

The invention provides materials and methods for the treatment of obesity and excess weight, diabetes, and other associated metabolic disorders. In particular, the invention provides novel glucagon analogue peptides effective in such methods. The peptides may mediate their effect by having increased selectivity for the GLP-1 receptor as compared to human glucagon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional No. 61/892,250, filed Oct. 17, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to glucagon analogues and their medical use, for example in the treatment of obesity and excess weight, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pre-proglucagon is a 158 amino acid precursor polypeptide that is differentially processed in the tissues to form a number of structurally related proglucagon-derived peptides, including glucagon (Glu), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), and oxyntomodulin (OXM). These molecules are involved in a wide variety of physiological functions, including glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, gastric emptying and intestinal growth, as well as regulation of food intake.

Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 53 to 81 of pre-proglucagon. Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a 37 amino acid peptide which includes the complete 29 amino acid sequence of glucagon with an octapeptide carboxyterminal extension (amino acids 82 to 89 of pre-proglucagon, and termed “intervening peptide 1” or IP-1). The major biologically active fragment of GLP-1 is produced as a 30-amino acid, C-terminally amidated peptide that corresponds to amino acids 98 to 127 of pre-proglucagon.

Glucagon helps maintain the level of glucose in the blood by binding to glucagon receptors on hepatocytes, causing the liver to release glucose—stored in the form of glycogen—through glycogenolysis. As these stores become depleted, glucagon stimulates the liver to synthesize additional glucose by gluconeogenesis. This glucose is released into the bloodstream, preventing the development of hypoglycemia.

GLP-1 decreases elevated blood glucose levels by improving glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and promotes weight loss chiefly through decreasing food intake.

OXM is released into the blood in response to food ingestion and in proportion to meal calorie content. OXM has been shown to suppress appetite and inhibit food intake in humans (Cohen et al, Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 88, 4696-4701, 2003; WO 2003/022304). In addition to those anorectic effects, which are similar to those of GLP-1, OXM must also affect body weight by another mechanism, since rats treated with oxyntomodulin show less body weight gain than pair-fed rats (Bloom, Endocrinology 2004, 145, 2687). Treatment of obese rodents with OXM also improves their glucose tolerance (Parlevliet et al, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, 294, E142-7, 2008) and suppresses body weight gain (WO 2003/022304).

OXM activates both the glucagon and the GLP-1 receptors with a two-fold higher potency for the glucagon receptor over the GLP-1 receptor, but is less potent than native glucagon and GLP-1 on their respective receptors. Human glucagon is also capable of activating both receptors, though with a strong preference for the glucagon receptor over the GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1 on the other hand is not capable of activating glucagon receptors. The mechanism of action of oxyntomodulin is not well understood. In particular, it is not known whether some of the extrahepatic effects of the hormone are mediated through the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors, or through one or more unidentified receptors.

Other peptides have been shown to bind and activate both the glucagon and the GLP-1 receptor (Hjort et al, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 269, 30121-30124, 1994) and to suppress body weight gain and reduce food intake (see, for example, WO 2006/134340, WO 2007/100535, WO 2008/10101, WO 2008/152403, WO 2009/155257, WO 2009/155258, WO2010/070252, WO2010/070253, WO2010/070255, WO2010/070251, WO2011/006497, WO2011/160630, WO2011/160633, WO2013/092703, WO2014/041195).

Obesity is a globally increasing health problem associated with various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. As a result, obesity has been found to reduce life expectancy. According to 2005 projections by the World Health Organization there are 400 million adults (age>15) classified as obese worldwide. In the US, obesity is now believed to be the second-leading cause of preventable death after smoking.

The rise in obesity drives an increase in diabetes, and approximately 90% of people with type 2 diabetes may be classified as obese. There are 246 million people worldwide with diabetes, and by 2025 it is estimated that 380 million will have diabetes. Many have additional cardiovascular risk factors, including high/aberrant LDL and triglycerides and low HDL.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

First Aspect

In a first aspect, the invention provides a compound having the formula: R¹—X—Z—R² wherein R¹ is H (i.e. hydrogen), C₁₋₄ alkyl, acetyl, formyl, benzoyl or trifluoroacetyl; R² is OH or NH₂; X is a peptide having the sequence:

H-X2-X3-GTFTSDYSKYLD-X16-X17-AA-X20-DFV-X24-WLL- X28-A wherein: X2 is selected from Ala, D-Ala, Ser, N-Me-Ser, Ac3c, Ac4c and Ac5c; X3 is selected from Gln and His; X16 is selected from Ser and ψ; X17 is selected from Lys and ψ; X20 is selected from His and ψ; X24 is selected from Glu and ψ; and X28 is selected from Ser and ψ; wherein X3 is His when X2 is Ser; wherein each ψ is a residue independently selected from Lys, Arg, Orn and Cys and wherein the side chain of each residue ψ is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent; and wherein Z is absent or is a sequence of 1-20 amino acid units independently selected from the group consisting of Ala, Leu, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Glu, Lys, Arg, Dbu, Dpr and Orn; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

In some embodiments, X17 is ψ.

In some embodiments, only X17 is ψ, i.e. the compound contains one and only one residue ψ, which is present at position 17.

Peptide X may have a sequence selected from:

HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA H-NMeSer-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac3c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA HSHGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA HAHGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA H-DAla-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac3c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA  and H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA or HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAHDFVEWLLSA H-NMeSer-QGTFTSDYSKYLDΨAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac3c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA HSHGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA HAHGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA H-DAla-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA H-Ac3c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA and H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA

The compound of the invention may be selected from:

H-HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-NMeSer-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac3c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-HSHGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-HAHGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-DAla-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac3c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ and H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSKAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ or H-HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-NMeSer-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac3c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-HSHGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-HAHGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-DAla-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ H-H-Ac3c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ and H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDSΨAAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ Second Aspect

In a second aspect, the invention provides a compound having the formula: R¹—X—Z—R² wherein R¹ is H (i.e. hydrogen), C₁₋₄ alkyl, acetyl, formyl, benzoyl or trifluoroacetyl; R² is OH or NH₂; X is a peptide having the sequence:

X1-X2-X3-GTFTSDYSKYL-X15-X16-X17-X18-A-X20-DFI- X24-WLE-X28-X29 wherein: X1 is selected from His and Tyr; X2 is selected from Aib, D-Ser, Ala, D-Ala, Abu, Pro. Ac3c, Ac4c and Ac5c; X3 is selected from Gln and His; X15 is selected from Asp and Glu; X16 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ; X17 is selected from Lys, Arg and ψ; X18 is selected from Ala and Arg; X20 is selected from Lys, His and ψ; X24 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ; X28 is selected from Ser, Glu, Lys and ψ; X29 is selected from Ala and Glu; wherein each ψ is a residue independently selected from Lys, Arg, Orn and Cys and wherein the side chain of each residue ψ is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent; and wherein Z is absent or is a sequence of 1-20 amino acid units independently selected from the group consisting of Ala, Leu, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Glu, Lys, Arg, Dbu, Dpr and Orn; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.

In some embodiments of the second aspect, ψ is present at one of X16, X17, X20, X24 and X28. Optionally, ψ is present at not more than one of X16, X17, X20, X24 and X28. It may be desirable that this is the only residue ψ present in the molecule.

Aspect 2.1

In some embodiments of the second aspect:

X1 is His;

X2 is selected from D-Ser, Ala, D-Ala, Abu, Pro, Ac3c, Ac4c and Ac5c;

X3 is selected from Gln and His;

X16 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X17 is selected from Lys, Arg and ψ;

X18 is selected from Ala and Arg;

X20 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X28 is selected from Ser, Lys and ψ;

X29 is Ala.

In some embodiments of the second aspect, ψ is present at one of X16, X17, X24 and X28. Optionally, ψ is present at not more than one of X16, X17, X24 and X28. It may be desirable that this is the only residue ψ present in the molecule.

Aspect 2.1.1

In certain examples:

X1 is His;

X2 is selected from Ala. D-Ala, Abu and Pro;

X3 is Gln;

X16 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X17 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X18 is Ala;

X20 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X28 is selected from Ser and ψ;

X29 is Ala.

Peptide X may have a sequence selected from:

H-Abu-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA H-DAla-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA and HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA or H-Abu-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA H-DAla-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA and HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA

The compound of the invention may be selected from:

H-H-Abu-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-DAla-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ or H-H-Abu-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-DAla-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ Aspect 2.1.2

In alternative examples:

X1 is His;

X2 is selected from Ac3c, Ac4c and Ac5c;

X3 is selected from Gln and His;

X16 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X17 is selected from Lys, Arg and ψ;

X18 is selected from Ala and Arg;

X20 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X28 is selected from Ser, Lys and ψ;

X29 is Ala.

Peptide X may have a sequence selected from:

H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDKRAAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIKWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIKWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIEWLEKA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIEWLEKA H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA and H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA or H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDΨRAAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAKDFIEWLESA H-Ac4c-OGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIΨWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIΨWLESA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIEWLEΨA H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIEWLEΨA H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA and H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAKDFIEWLESA

The compound of the invention may be selected from:

H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDKRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIKWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIKWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIEWLEKA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIEWLEKA-NH₂ H-H-AcAc-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEKRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDΨRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIΨWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIΨWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIEWLEΨA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERRAKDFIEWLEΨA-NH₂ H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ or Aspect 2.2

In alternative embodiments of the second aspect

X1 is His;

X2 is Aib;

X3 is Gln;

X15 is selected from Asp and Glu;

X16 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X17 is Arg;

X18 is Ala;

X20 is selected from Lys, His and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu, Lys and ψ;

X28 is selected from Ser and ψ;

X29 is Ala.

In some embodiments, one of X16 and X24 is Lys or ψ and the other is Glu.

Additionally or alternatively, X15 is Glu and X16 is Lys or ψ.

Peptide X may have a sequence selected from:

H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDKRAAKDFIEWLESA H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIKWLESA H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEKRAAKDFIEWLESA and H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEKRAAHDFIEWLESA or H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDΨRAAKDFIEWLESA H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIΨWLESA H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨRAAKDIEWLESA and H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEΨRAAHDFIEWLESA

The compound of the invention may be selected from:

H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDKRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIKWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Aib-OGITTSDYSKYLEKRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEKRAAHDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDΨRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDERAAKDFIΨWLESA-NH₂ H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEΨRAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ and H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLEΨRAAHDFIEWLESA-NH₂ or Aspect 2.3

In alternative embodiments of the second aspect:

X1 is Tyr;

X2 is Aib;

X3 is Gln;

X16 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X17 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X18 is Ala

X20 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X28 is selected from Ser and ψ;

X29 is Ala.

Peptide X may have the sequence:

Y-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA or Y-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA

The compound of the invention may be:

H-Y-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ or H-Y-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ Aspect 2A

In alternative embodiments of the second aspect. X28 and X29 are both Glu.

For example:

X1 is His;

X2 is Aib;

X3 is Gln

X16 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X17 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X18 is selected from Ala and ψ;

X20 is selected from Lys and ψ;

X24 is selected from Glu and ψ;

X28 is Glu;

X29 is Glu.

Peptide X may have the sequence:

H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLEEE or H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLEEE

The compound of the invention may be:

H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEKAAKDFIEWLEEE-NH₂ or H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDEΨAAKDFIEWLEEE-NH₂

For the avoidance of doubt, in all aspects of the invention, those positions which are not expressly stated to permit variability are fixed and thus may only include the stated residue.

In all aspects, the compound of the invention may comprise one or more residues ψ. Each residue ψ is independently selected from Lys, Arg, Orn and Cys and the side chain of each residue ψ is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent as described in more detail below.

It may be desirable that the compound of the invention comprises no more than three residues ψ, or no more than two residues ψ. In particular, it may be desirable that the compound comprises no more than one residue ψ, i.e. no residues ψ or precisely one residue ψ.

The lipophilic substituent is typically conjugated to the functional group at the distal end of the side chain from the alpha-carbon. The ability of the side chain to participate in interactions mediated by that functional group (e.g. intra- and inter-molecular interactions) may therefore be reduced or completely eliminated by the presence of the lipophilic substituent. Thus, the overall properties of the compound may be relatively insensitive to changes in the actual amino acid present as residue ψ. Consequently, it is believed that any of the residues Lys, Arg, Orn and Cys may be present at any position where ψ is permitted. However, in certain embodiments, it may be advantageous that ψ is Lys.

Where a residue ψ is present, the side chain of the residue Lys, Arg, Orn or Cys is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent.

A lipophilic substituent may have the formula Z¹ wherein Z¹ is a lipophilic moiety conjugated (covalently linked) directly to the side chain of the relevant Lys, Arg, Orn or Cys residue, or Z¹Z² where Z¹ is a lipophilic moiety, Z² is a spacer, and Z¹ is conjugated to the side chain of the relevant residue via Z².

In any aspect of the invention, R¹ may be selected from H and C₁₋₄ alkyl (e.g. methyl).

For those peptide sequences X or X—Z composed exclusively of naturally-occurring amino adds, the invention further provides a nucleic add (which may be DNA or RNA) encoding a peptide X or X—Z as defined herein. For compounds containing a residue ψ which consists of a lipophilic moiety conjugated to a Lys, Arg or Cys residue, the nucleic acid may encode the appropriate Lys, Arg or Cys at the relevant position.

Also provided is an expression vector comprising such a nucleic acid, and a host cell containing such a nucleic acid or expression vector. The host cell is typically capable of expressing and optionally secreting the encoded peptide X or X—Z.

The compounds of the invention are glucagon analogue peptides. References herein to a glucagon analogue peptide should be construed as references to a compound of the invention or to a peptide X or X—Z as the context requires. Reference to a compound of the invention should be taken to include any pharmaceutically acceptable salt (e.g. an acetate or chloride salt) or solvate thereof, unless otherwise stated or excluded by context.

The invention provides a composition comprising a compound of the invention as defined herein (including pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof, as already described), a nucleic acid encoding a peptide X or X—Z, an expression vector comprising such a nucleic acid, or a host cell containing such a nucleic acid or expression vector, in admixture with a carrier. In preferred embodiments, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition and the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The glucagon analogue peptide may be in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the glucagon analogue.

The compounds described herein find use, inter alia, in preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss. By “preventing” is meant inhibiting or reducing when compared to the absence of treatment, and is not necessarily meant to imply complete cessation of weight gain. The peptides may cause a decrease in food intake and/or increased energy expenditure, resulting in the observed effect on body weight. Independently of their effect on body weight, the compounds of the invention may have a beneficial effect on glucose control and/or on circulating cholesterol levels, being capable of lowering circulating LDL levels and increasing HDL/LDL ratio. Thus the compounds of the invention can be used for direct or indirect therapy of any condition caused or characterised by excess body weight, such as the treatment and/or prevention of obesity, morbid obesity, obesity linked inflammation, obesity linked gallbladder disease, obesity induced sleep apnea. They may also be used for the prevention of conditions caused or characterised by inadequate glucose control or dyslipidaemia (e.g. elevated LDL levels or reduced HDL/LDL ratio), diabetes (especially Type 2 diabetes), metabolic syndrome, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke or microvascular disease. Theft effects in these conditions may be as a result of or associated with theft effect on body weight, or may be independent thereof.

The invention also provides a compound of the invention for use in a method of medical treatment, particularly for use in a method of treatment of a condition as described above.

The invention also provides the use of a compound of the invention in the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a condition as described above.

The compound of the invention may be administered as part of a combination therapy with an agent for treatment of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia or hypertension.

In such cases, the two active agents may be given together or separately, and as part of the same pharmaceutical formulation or as separate formulations.

Thus the compound of the invention can be used in combination with an anti-diabetic agent including but not limited to a biguanide (e.g. metformin), a sulfonylurea, a meglitinide or glinide (e.g. nateglinide), a DPP-IV inhibitor, a glitazone, an SGLT2 inhibitor, an insulin, or an insulin analogue. Examples of insulin analogues include but are not limited to Lantus™, Novorapid™, Humalog™, Novomix™, Actraphane HM™, Levemir™ and Apidra™.

The compound can further be used in combination with an anti-obesity agent including but not limited to a glucagon-like peptide receptor 1 agonist, peptide YY or analogue thereof, cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist, lipase inhibitor, melanocortin receptor 4 agonist, melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 antagonist, phentermine (alone or in combination with topiramate), a combination of norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor and opioid receptor antagonist (e.g. a combination of bupropion and naltrexone), or a serotonergic agent (e.g. lorcaserin).

The compound can further be used in combination with an anti-hypertension agent including but not limited to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II receptor blacker, diuretic, beta-blocker, or calcium channel blocker.

The compound can be used in combination with an anti-dyslipidaemia agent including but not limited to a statin, a fibrate, a niacin or a cholesterol absorbtion inhibitor.

Thus the invention further provides a composition or therapeutic kit comprising a compound of the invention and for example an anti-diabetic agent, anti-obesity agent, anti-hypertension agent or anti-dyslipidaemia agent as described above. Also provided is such a composition or therapeutic kit for use in a method of medical treatment, especially for treatment of a condition as described above.

The compound of the invention may be made by synthetic chemistry. Accordingly the invention provides a method of synthesis of a compound of the invention.

As already described, the invention extends to nucleic acids encoding the peptide sequence X or X—Z, as well as expression vectors comprising the above-described nucleic acid sequence (optionally operably linked to sequences to direct its expression) and host cells containing the nucleic acids or expression vectors. Preferably the host cells are capable of expressing and optionally secreting the compound of the invention.

The present invention provides a method of producing a compound of the invention, the method comprising culturing the host cells under conditions suitable for expressing the peptide sequence X or X—Z and purifying the compound thus produced. This is particularly useful where the peptide contains only naturally-occurring amino acids.

Where the compound of the invention contains one or more non-naturally-occurring amino acids and/or a residue ψ, the method may comprise expressing a peptide sequence containing one or more differences from the sequence X or X—Z, optionally purifying the compound thus produced, and adding or modifying (e.g. chemically modifying) one or more amino acids to produce a compound of the invention or a compound comprising the amino acid sequence X or X—Z.

Whichever method is used to produce the compound of the invention, it may comprise one or more further steps of modifying (e.g. chemically modifying) the sequence X or X—Z, especially to introduce one or more lipophilic moieties as defined elsewhere in this specification.

The invention further provides a nucleic acid of the invention, an expression vector of the invention, or a host cell capable of expressing and optionally secreting a compound of the invention, for use in a method of medical treatment. It will be understood that the nucleic acid, expression vector and host cells may be used for treatment of any of the disorders described herein which may be treated with the compounds of the invention themselves. References to a therapeutic composition comprising a compound of the invention, administration of a compound of the invention, or any therapeutic use thereof, should therefore be construed to encompass the equivalent use of a nucleic acid, expression vector or host cell of the invention, except where the context demands otherwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, the conventional one letter and three letter codes for naturally occurring amino acids are used, as well as generally accepted abbreviations for other amino acids, such as D-Ala or DAla (D-alanine), Aib (α-aminoisobutyric acid), Orn (ornithine), NMeSer or N-Me-Ser (N-methyl serine), Ac3c (1-amino-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid), Ac4c (1-amino-cyclobutanecarboxylic acid), Ac5c (1-amino-cyclopentanecarboxylic acid), Abu ((S)-2-aminobutyric acid).

Ac3c, Ac4c and Ac5c have similar structures and are to some extent interchangeable, although Ac4c may be preferred.

Glucagon is a 29-amino acid peptide that corresponds to amino acids 53 to 81 of pre-proglucagon and has the sequence His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr. Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a 37 amino acid peptide which includes the complete 29 amino acid sequence of glucagon with an octapeptide carboxyterminal extension (amino acids 82 to 89 of pre-proglucagon, having the sequence Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala and termed “intervening peptide 1” or IP-1; the full sequence of human oxyntomodulin is thus His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr-Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala). The major biologically active fragment of GLP-1 is produced as a 30-amino acid, C-terminally amidated peptide that corresponds to amino acids 98 to 127 of pre-proglucagon.

The term “native glucagon” thus refers to native human glucagon having the sequence H-His-Ser-Gln-Gly-Thr-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Tyr-Ser-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Asp-Ser-Arg-Arg-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Val-Gln-Trp-Leu-Met-Asn-Thr-OH.

Amino acids within the sequence X of the compounds of the invention can be considered to be numbered consecutively from 1 to 29 in the conventional N-terminal to C-terminal direction. Reference to a “position” within X should be construed accordingly, as should reference to positions within native human glucagon and other molecules.

A compound of the invention may comprise a C-terminal peptide sequence Z of 1-20 amino acids, for example to stabilise the conformation and/or secondary structure of the glucagon analogue peptide, and/or to render the glucagon analogue peptide more resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis, e.g. as described in WO99/46283.

When present, Z represents a peptide sequence of 1-20 amino acid residues, e.g. in the range of 1-15, more preferably in the range of 1-10, in particular in the range of 1-7 amino acid residues, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 amino acid residues, such as 6 amino acid residues.

Each of the amino acid residues in the peptide sequence Z may independently be selected from Ala. Leu, Ser, Thr, Tyr, Cys, Glu, Lys, Arg, Dbu (2,4-diaminobutyric acid), Dpr (2,3-diaminopropanoic acid) and Orn (ornithine). Preferably, the amino acid residues are selected from Ser, Thr, Tyr, Glu, Lys, Arg, Dbu, Dpr and Orn, more preferably selected exclusively from Glu, Lys, and Cys. The above-mentioned amino acids may have either D- or L-configuration, which in certain embodiments, have an L-configuration. Particularly preferred sequences Z are sequences of four, five, six or seven consecutive lysine residues (i.e. Lys₃, Lys₄, Lys₅, Lys₆ or Lys₇), and particularly five or six consecutive lysine residues. Other exemplary sequences of Z are shown in WO 01/04156. Alternatively the C-terminal residue of the sequence Z may be a Cys residue. This may assist in modification (e.g. PEGylation, or conjugation to albumin) of the compound. In such embodiments, the sequence Z may, for example, be only one amino acid in length (i.e. Z=Cys) or may be two, three, four, five, six or even more amino acids in length. The other amino acids therefore serve as a spacer between the peptide X and the terminal Cys residue.

The peptide sequence Z has no more than 25% sequence identity with the corresponding sequence of the IP-1 portion of human OXM (which has the sequence Lys-Arg-Asn-Arg-Asn-Asn-Ile-Ala).

“Percent (%) amino acid sequence identity” of a given peptide or polypeptide sequence with respect to another polypeptide sequence (e.g. IP-1) is calculated as the percentage of amino acid residues in the given peptide sequence that are identical with correspondingly positioned amino acid residues in the corresponding sequence of that other polypeptide when the two are aligned with one another, introducing gaps for optimal alignment if necessary. % identity values may be determined using WU-BLAST-2 (Altschul et al., Methods in Enzymology, 266:460-480 (1996)). WU-BLAST-2 uses several search parameters, most of which are set to the default values. The adjustable parameters are set with the following values: overlap span=1, overlap fraction=0.125, word threshold (T)=11. A % amino acid sequence identity value is determined by the number of matching identical residues as determined by WU-BLAST-2, divided by the total number of residues of the reference sequence (gaps introduced by WU-BLAST-2 into the reference sequence to maximize the alignment score being ignored), multiplied by 100.

Thus, when Z is aligned optimally with the 8 amino acids of IP-1, it has no more than two amino acids which are identical with the corresponding amino acids of IP-1.

In certain embodiments, Z is absent.

If the compound of the invention contains a residue ψ, then ψ comprises a residue Lys, Arg, Orn or Cys whose side chain is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent. Lys may be preferred.

The lipophilic substituent may be covalently bonded to an atom in the amino acid side chain, or alternatively may be conjugated to the amino acid side chain by a spacer.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is thought that the lipophilic substituent binds to plasma proteins (e.g albumin) in the blood stream, thus shielding the compounds of the invention from enzymatic degradation and thereby enhancing the half-life of the compounds. It may also modulate the potency of the compound, e.g. with respect to the glucagon receptor and/or the GLP-1 receptor.

In certain embodiments, only one amino acid side chain is conjugated to a lipophilic substituent. In other embodiments, two amino acid side chains are each conjugated to a lipophilic substituent. In yet further embodiments, three or even more amino acid side chains are each conjugated to a lipophilic substituent. When a compound contains two or more lipophilic substituents, they may be the same or different.

The lipophilic substituent may comprise or consist of a lipophilic moiety Z¹ which may be covalently bonded directly to an atom in the amino acid side chain, or alternatively may be conjugated to the amino acid side chain by a spacer Z².

The term “conjugated” is used here to describe the physical attachment of one identifiable chemical moiety to another, and the structural relationship between such moieties. It should not be taken to imply any particular method of synthesis.

The lipophilic moiety may be attached to the amino acid side chain or to the spacer via an ester, a sulphonyl ester, a thioester, an amide, a carbamate, a urea or a sulphonamide. Accordingly it will be understood that preferably the lipophilic substituent includes an acyl group, a sulphonyl group, an N atom, an O atom or an S atom which forms part of the ester, sulphonyl ester, thioester, amide or sulphonamide. Preferably, an acyl group in the lipophilic substituent forms part of an amide or ester with the amino acid side chain or the spacer.

The lipophilic moiety may include a hydrocarbon chain having 4 to 30 C atoms. Preferably it has at least 8 or 12 C atoms, and preferably it has 24 C atoms or fewer, or 20 C atoms or fewer. The hydrocarbon chain may be linear or branched and may be saturated or unsaturated. It will be understood that the hydrocarbon chain is preferably substituted with a moiety which forms part of the attachment to the amino acid side chain or the spacer, for example an acyl group, a sulphonyl group, an N atom, an O atom or an S atom. Most preferably the hydrocarbon chain is substituted with acyl, and accordingly the hydrocarbon chain may be part of an alkanoyl group, for example palmitoyl, caproyl, lauroyl, myristoyl or stearoyl.

Accordingly, the lipophilic moiety may have the formula shown below:

A may be, for example, an acyl group, a sulphonyl group, NH, N-alkyl, an O atom or an S atom, preferably acyl, n is an integer from 3 to 29, preferably from 7 to 25, more preferred 11 to 21, even more preferred 15 to 19.

The hydrocarbon chain may be further substituted. For example, it may be further substituted with up to three substituents selected from NH₂, OH and COOH, especially at the free end of the molecule distal from the spacer or peptide. For example, it may comprise a free carboxylic acid group.

If the hydrocarbon chain is further substituted, preferably it is further substituted with only one substituent. Alternatively or additionally, the hydrocarbon chain may include a cycloalkane or heterocycloalkane, for example as shown below:

Preferably the cycloalkane or heterocycloalkane is a six-membered ring. Most preferably, it is piperidine.

Alternatively, the lipophilic moiety may be based on a cyclopentanophenanthrene skeleton, which may be partially or fully unsaturated, or saturated. The carbon atoms in the skeleton each may be substituted with Me or OH. For example, the lipophilic substituent may be cholyl, deoxycholyl or lithocholyl.

As mentioned above, the lipophilic moiety may be conjugated to the amino acid side chain by a spacer. When present, the spacer is attached to the lipophilic moiety and to the amino acid side chain. The spacer may be attached to the lipophilic moiety and to the amino acid side chain independently by an ester, a sulphonyl ester, a thioester, an amide, a carbamate, a urea or a sulphonamide. Accordingly, it may include two moieties independently selected from acyl, sulphonyl, an N atom, an O atom or an S atom. The spacer may have the formula:

wherein B and a are each independently selected from acyl, sulphonyl, NH, N-alkyl, an O atom and an S atom, preferably from acyl and NH. Preferably, n is an integer from 1 to 10, preferably from 1 to 5. The spacer may be further substituted with one or more substituents selected from C₀₋₆ alkyl, C₀₋₆ alkyl amine, C₀₋₆ alkyl hydroxy and C₀₋₆ alkyl carboxy.

Alternatively, the spacer may have two or more repeat units of the formula above. B, C and n are each selected independently for each repeat unit. Adjacent repeat units may be covalently attached to each other via their respective B and a moieties. For example, the B and C moieties of the adjacent repeat units may together form an ester, a sulphonyl ester, a thioester, an amide or a sulphonamide. The free B and D units at each end of the spacer are attached to the amino acid side chain and the lipophilic moiety as described above.

Preferably the spacer has five or fewer, four or fewer or three or fewer repeat units. Most preferably the spacer has two repeat units, or is a single unit.

The spacer (or one or more of the repeat units of the spacer, if it has repeat units) may be, for example, a natural or unnatural amino acid. It will be understood that for amino acids having functionalised side chains, B and/or B may be a moiety within the side chain of the amino acid. The spacer may be any naturally occurring or unnatural amino acid. For example, the spacer (or one or more of the repeat units of the spacer, if it has repeat units) may be Gly, Pro, Ala, Val, Leu, Ile, Met, Cys, Phe, Tyr, Trp, His, Lys, Arg, Gln, Asn, α-Glu, γ-Glu, Asp, Ser Thr, Gaba, Aib, β-Ala, 5-aminopentanoyl, 6-aminohexanoyl, 7-aminoheptanoyl, 8-aminooctanoyl, 9-aminononanoyl or 10-aminodecanoyl.

For example, the spacer may be a single amino acid selected from γ-Glu, Gaba, β-Ala and α-Glu.

Amino acids within the spacer having stereogenic centres may be racemic, enantioenriched, or enantiopure. In some embodiments, the or each amino acid within the spacer is independently an L-amino acid. In some embodiments, the or each amino acid is independently a D-amino acid.

An example of a lipophilic substituent comprising lipophilic moiety and spacer is shown in the formula below:

Here, a Lys residue in the compound of the present invention is covalently attached to γ-Glu (the spacer) via an amide moiety, Palmitoyl hexadecanoyl) is covalently attached to the γ-Glu spacer via an amide moiety, thus creating a hexadecanoyl-isoGlu group.

This group may be present as ψ in any compound of the invention.

Alternatively or additionally, one or more amino acid side chains in the compound of the invention may be conjugated to a polymeric moiety, for example, in order to increase solubility and/or half-life in vivo (e.g. in plasma) and/or bioavailability. Such modification is also known to reduce clearance (e.g. renal clearance) of therapeutic proteins and peptides.

The skilled reader will be well aware of suitable techniques that can be used to perform the coupling reactions with spacer and lipophilic moiety using general synthetic methodology listed e.g. in “Comprehensive Organic Transformations, A Guide to Functional Group Preparations”, 2nd edition, Larock, R. C.; Wiley-VCH: New York, 1999. Such transformations may take place at any suitable stage during the synthesis process.

The polymeric moiety is preferably water-soluble (amphiphilic or hydrophilic), non-toxic, and pharmaceutically inert. Suitable polymeric moieties include polyethylene glycol (PEG), homo- or co-polymers of PEG, a monomethyl-substituted polymer of PEG (mPEG), and polyoxyethylene glycerol (FOG). See, for example, Int. J. Hematology 68:1 (1998); Bioconjugate Chem. 6:150 (1995); and Crit. Rev. Therap. Drug Carrier Sys. 9:249 (1992).

Other suitable polymeric moieties include poly-amino acids such as poly-lysine, poly-aspartic acid and poly-glutamic acid (see for example Gombotz, et al. (1995), Bioconjugate Chem., vol. 6: 332-351; Hudecz, et al, (1992), Bioconjugate Chem., vol. 3, 49-57; Tsukada, et al. (1984), J. Natl. Cancer Inst., vol 73: 721-729; and Pratesi, et al. (1985), Br. J. Cancer, vol. 52: 841-848).

The polymeric moiety may be straight-chain or branched. It may have a molecular weight of 500-40,000 Da, for example 500-10,000 Da, 1000-5000 Da, 10,000-20,000 Da, or 20,000-40,000 Da.

A compound of the invention may comprise two or more such moieties, in which case the total molecular weight of all such moieties will generally fall within the ranges provided above.

The polymeric moiety may be coupled (by covalent linkage) to an amino, carboxyl or thiol group of an amino acid side chain. Preferred examples are the thiol group of Cys residues and the epsilon amino group of Lys residues. The carboxyl groups of Asp and Glu residues may also be used.

The skilled reader will be well aware of suitable techniques that can be used to perform the coupling reaction. For example, a PEG moiety carrying a methoxy group can be coupled to a Cys thiol group by a maleimido linkage using reagents commercially available from Nektar Therapeutics. See also WO 2008/101017, and the references cited above, for details of suitable chemistry.

Peptide Synthesis

The compounds of the present invention may be manufactured either by standard synthetic methods, recombinant expression systems, or any other state of the art method. Thus the glucagon analogues may be synthesized in a number of ways, including, for example, a method which comprises:

(a) synthesizing the peptide by means of solid-phase or liquid-phase methodology, either stepwise or by fragment assembly, and isolation and purifying of the final peptide product; or

(b) expressing a nucleic acid construct that encodes the peptide in a host cell, and recovering the expression product from the host cell or culture medium; or

(c) effecting cell-free in vitro expression of a nucleic acid construct that encodes the peptide, and recovering the expression product;

or any combination of methods of (a), (b), and (c) to obtain fragments of the peptide, subsequently ligating the fragments to obtain the peptide, and recovering the peptide.

It is preferred to synthesize the analogues of the invention by means of solid-phase or liquid-phase peptide synthesis. In this context, reference is made to WO 98/11125 and, among many others, Fields. G B et al., 2002, “Principles and practice of solid-phase peptide synthesis”. In: Synthetic Peptides (2nd Edition), and the Examples herein.

For recombinant expression, the nucleic add fragments of the invention will normally be inserted in suitable vectors to form cloning or expression vectors carrying the nucleic add fragments of the invention; such novel vectors are also part of the invention. The vectors can, depending on purpose and type of application, be in the form of plasmids, phages, cosmids, mini-chromosomes, or virus, but also naked DNA which is only expressed transiently in certain cells is an important vector. Preferred cloning and expression vectors (plasmid vectors) of the invention are capable of autonomous replication, thereby enabling high copy-numbers for the purposes of high-level expression or high-level replication for subsequent cloning.

In general outline, an expression vector comprises the following features in the 5′→3′ direction and in operable linkage: a promoter for driving expression of the nucleic add fragment of the invention, optionally a nucleic add sequence encoding a leader peptide enabling secretion (to the extracellular phase or, where applicable, into the periplasma), the nucleic add fragment encoding the peptide of the invention, and optionally a nucleic add sequence encoding a terminator. They may comprise additional features such as selectable markers and origins of replication. When operating with expression vectors in producer strains or cell lines it may be preferred that the vector is capable of integrating into the host cell genome. The skilled person is very familiar with suitable vectors and is able to design one according to their specific requirements.

The vectors of the invention are used to transform host cells to produce the compound of the invention. Such transformed cells, which are also part of the invention, can be cultured cells or cell lines used for propagation of the nucleic acid fragments and vectors of the invention, or used for recombinant production of the peptides of the invention.

Preferred transformed cells of the invention are micro-organisms such as bacteria [such as the species Escherichia (e.g. E. coli), Bacillus (e.g. Bacillus subtilis), Salmonella, or Mycobacterium (preferably non-pathogenic, e.g. M. bovis BCG), yeasts (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia pastoris), and protozoans. Alternatively, the transformed cells may be derived from a multicellular organism, i.e. it may be fungal cell, an insect cell, an algal cell, a plant cell, or an animal cell such as a mammalian cell. For the purposes of cloning and/or optimised expression it is preferred that the transformed cell is capable of replicating the nucleic acid fragment of the invention. Cells expressing the nucleic fragment are useful embodiments of the invention; they can be used for small-scale or large-scale preparation of the peptides of the invention.

When producing the peptide of the invention by means of transformed cells, it is convenient, although far from essential, that the expression product is secreted into the culture medium.

Efficacy

Binding of the relevant compounds to GLP-1 or glucagon (Glu) receptors may be used as an indication of agonist activity, but in general it is preferred to use a biological assay which measures intracellular signalling caused by binding of the compound to the relevant receptor. For example, activation of the glucagon receptor by a glucagon agonist will stimulate cellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation. Similarly, activation of the GLP-1 receptor by a GLP-1 agonist will stimulate cellular cAMP formation. Thus, production of cAMP in suitable cells expressing one of these two receptors can be used to monitor the relevant receptor activity. Use of a suitable pair of cell types, each expressing one receptor but not the other, can hence be used to determine agonist activity towards both types of receptor.

The skilled person will be aware of suitable assay formats, and examples are provided below. The GLP-1 receptor and/or the glucagon receptor may have the sequence of the receptors as described in the examples. For example, the assays may employ the human glucagon receptor (Glucagon-R) having primary accession number GI:4503947 and/or the human glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) having primary accession number GI:166795283. (in that where sequences of precursor proteins are referred to, it should of course be understood that assays may make use of the mature protein, lacking the signal sequence).

EC₅₀ values may be used as a numerical measure of agonist potency at a given receptor. An EC₅₀ value is a measure of the concentration of a compound required to achieve half of that compound's maximal activity in a particular assay. Thus, for example, a compound having EC₅₀[GLP-1] lower than the EC₅₀[GLP-1] of glucagon in a particular assay may be considered to have higher GLP-1 receptor agonist potency than glucagon.

The compounds described in this specification are typically GluGLP-1 dual agonists, as determined by the observation that they are capable of stimulating cAMP formation at both the glucagon receptor and the GLP-1 receptor. The stimulation of each receptor can be measured in independent assays and afterwards compared to each other.

By comparing the EC₅₀ value for the GLP-1 receptor (EC₅₀ [GLP-1-R]) with the EC₅₀ value for the Glucagon receptor, (EC₅₀ [GlucagonR]) for a given compound, the relative GLP-1R selectivity can be calculated as follows: Relative GLP-1R selectivity [compound]=(EC₅₀ [GLP-1R])/(EC₅₀ [Glucagon-R])

The term “EC₅₀” stands for the half maximal Effective Concentration, typically at a particular receptor, or on the level of a particular marker for receptor function, and can refer to an inhibitory or an antagonistic activity, depending on the specific biochemical context.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, a compound's relative selectivity may allow its effect on the GLP-1 or glucagon receptor to be compared directly to its effect on the other receptor. For example, the higher a compound's relative GLP-1 selectivity is, the more effective that compound may be on the GLP-1 receptor as compared to the glucagon receptor. Typically the results are compared for glucagon and GLP-1 receptors from the same species, e.g. human glucagon and GLP-1 receptors, or murine glucagon and GLP-1 receptors.

The compounds of the invention may have a higher relative GLP-1R selectivity than human glucagon in that for a particular level of glucagon-R agonist activity, the compound may display a higher level of GLP-1R agonist activity (i.e. greater potency at the GLP-1 receptor) than glucagon. It will be understood that the absolute potency of a particular compound at the glucagon and GLP-1 receptors may be higher, lower or approximately equal to that of native human glucagon, as long as the appropriate relative GLP-1R selectivity is achieved.

Nevertheless, the compounds of this invention may have a lower EC₅₀ [GLP-1R] than human glucagon. The compounds may have a lower EC₅₀[GLP-1-R] than glucagon while maintaining an EC₅₀ [Glucagon-R] that is less than 10-fold higher than that of human glucagon, less than 5-fold higher than that of human glucagon, or less than 2-fold higher than that of human glucagon.

The compounds of the invention may have an EC₅₀ [Glucagon-R] that is less than two-fold that of human glucagon. The compounds may have an EC₅₀ [Glucagon-R] that is less than two-fold that of human glucagon and have an EC₅₀ [GLP-1R] that is less than half that of human glucagon, less than a fifth of that of human glucagon, or less than a tenth of that of human glucagon.

The relative GLP-1R selectivity of the compounds may be between 0.05 and 20. For example, the compounds may have a relative selectivity of 0.05-0.20, 0.1-0.30, 0.2-0.5, 0.3-0.7, or 0.5-1.0; 1.0-2.0, 1.5-3.0, 2.0-4.0 or 2.5-5.0; or 0.05-20, 0.075-15, 0.1-10, 0.15-5, 0.75-2.5 or 0.9-1.1.

In certain embodiments, it may be desirable that EC₅₀ of any given compound for both the Glucagon-R and GLP-1R, e.g. for the human glucagon and GLP-1 receptors, should be less than 1 nM.

Therapeutic Uses

The compounds of the invention may provide attractive treatment and/or prevention options for, inter alia, obesity and metabolic diseases including diabetes, as discussed below.

Diabetes comprises a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Acute signs of diabetes include excessive urine production, resulting compensatory thirst and increased fluid intake, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and changes in energy metabolism. The chronic hyperglycemia of diabetes is associated with long-term damage, dysfunction, and failure of various organs, notably the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. Diabetes is classified into type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes on the basis on pathogenetic characteristics.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5-10% of all diabetes cases and is caused by auto-immune destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of diabetes cases and is a result of a complex set of metabolic disorders. Type 2 diabetes is the consequence of endogenous insulin production becoming insufficient to maintain plasma glucose levels below the diagnostic thresholds.

Gestational diabetes refers to any degree of glucose intolerance identified during pregnancy.

Pre-diabetes includes impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance and refers to those states that occur when blood glucose levels are elevated but below the levels that are established for the clinical diagnosis for diabetes.

A large proportion of people with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to the high prevalence of additional metabolic risk factors including abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue around the abdominal internal organs), atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders including high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and/or high LDL cholesterol, which foster plaque buildup in artery walls), elevated blood pressure (hypertension) a prothrombotic state (e.g. high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the blood), and proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood).

Conversely, obesity confers an increased risk of developing pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes as well as e.g. certain types of cancer, obstructive sleep apnea and gall-bladder disease.

Dyslipidaemia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is of clinical importance since an inverse correlation exists between plasma HDL concentrations and risk of atherosclerotic disease. The majority of cholesterol stored in atherosclerotic plagues originates from LDL and hence elevated concentrations Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) is closely associated with atherosclerosis. The HDL/LDL ratio is a clinical risk indictor for atherosclerosis and coronary atherosclerosis in particular.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue around the abdominal internal organs), atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders including high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and/or high LDL cholesterol, which foster plague buildup in artery walls), elevated blood pressure (hypertension), insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, prothrombotic state (e.g. high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in the blood), and proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood).

Individuals with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to other manifestations of arteriosclerosis (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease). The dominant underlying risk factors for this syndrome appear to be abdominal obesity.

Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the compounds of the invention act as dual agonists both on the human glucagon-receptor and the human GLP1-receptor, abbreviated here as dual GluGLP-1 agonists. The dual agonist may combine the effect of glucagon, e.g. on fat metabolism, with the effect of GLP-1, e.g, on blood glucose levels and food intake. They may therefore act to accelerate elimination of excessive adipose tissue, induce sustainable weight loss, and improve glycemic control. Dual GluGLP-1 agonists may also act to reduce cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol, high LDL-cholesterol or low HDL/LDL cholesterol ratios.

The compounds of the present invention can therefore be used in a subject in need thereof as pharmaceutical agents for preventing weight gain, promoting weight loss, reducing excess body weight or treating obesity (e.g. by control of appetite, feeding, food intake, calorie intake, and/or energy expenditure), including morbid obesity, as well as associated diseases and health conditions including but not limited to obesity linked inflammation, obesity linked gallbladder disease and obesity induced sleep apnea. The compounds of the invention may also be used for treatment of conditions caused by or associated with impaired glucose control, including metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, pre-diabetes, increased fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerois, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease and stroke, in a subject in need thereof. Some of these conditions can be associated with obesity. However, the effects of the compounds of the invention on these conditions may be mediated in whole or in part via an effect on body weight, or may be independent thereof.

The synergistic effect of dual GluGLP-1 agonists may also result in reduction of cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol and LDL, which may be entirely independent of their effect on body weight.

Thus the invention provides the use of a compound of the invention in the treatment of a condition as described above, in an individual in need thereof.

The invention also provides a compound of the invention for use in a method of medical treatment, particularly for use in a method of treatment of a condition as described above.

In a preferred aspect, the compounds described may be used in treating diabetes, esp. type 2 diabetes.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention comprises use of a compound for treating diabetes, esp. type 2 diabetes in an individual in need thereof.

In a not less preferred aspect, the compounds described may be used in preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention comprises use of a compound for preventing weight gain or promoting weight loss in an individual in need thereof.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention comprises use of a compound in a method of treatment of a condition caused or characterised by excess body weight, e.g. the treatment and/or prevention of obesity, morbid obesity, morbid obesity prior to surgery, obesity linked inflammation, obesity linked gallbladder disease, obesity induced sleep apnea, prediabetes, diabetes, esp. type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidimia, atherosclerois, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke or microvascular disease in an individual in need thereof.

In another aspect, the compounds described may be used in a method of lowering circulating LDL levels, and/or increasing HDL/LDL ratio.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention comprises use of a compound in a method of lowering circulating LDL levels, and/or increasing HDL/LDL ratio in an individual in need thereof.

In another aspect, the compounds described may be used in a method of lowering circulating triglyceride levels.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

The compounds of the present invention may be formulated as pharmaceutical compositions prepared for storage or administration. Such a composition typically comprises a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention, in the appropriate form, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

The therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the present invention will depend on the route of administration, the type of mammal being treated, and the physical characteristics of the specific mammal under consideration. These factors and theft relationship to determining this amount are well known to skilled practitioners in the medical arts. This amount and the method of administration can be tailored to achieve optimal efficacy, and may depend on such factors as weight, diet, concurrent medication and other factors, well known to those skilled in the medical arts. The dosage sizes and dosing regimen most appropriate for human use may be guided by the results obtained by the present invention, and may be confirmed in properly designed clinical trials. The compounds of the present invention may be particularly useful for treatment of humans.

An effective dosage and treatment protocol may be determined by conventional means, starting with a low dose in laboratory animals and then increasing the dosage while monitoring the effects, and systematically varying the dosage regimen as well. Numerous factors may be taken into consideration by a clinician when determining an optimal dosage for a given subject. Such considerations are known to the skilled person.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” includes any of the standard pharmaceutical carriers. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for therapeutic use are well known in the pharmaceutical art, and are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co. (A. R. Gennaro edit. 1985). For example, sterile saline and phosphate-buffered saline at slightly acidic or physiological pH may be used. pH buffering agents may be phosphate, citrate, acetate, tris/hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS), N-Tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-aminopropanesulphonic acid (TAPS), ammonium bicarbonate, diethanolamine, histidine, which is a preferred buffer, arginine, lysine, or acetate or mixtures thereof. The term further encompasses any agents listed in the US Pharmacopeia for use in animals, including humans.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a salt of any one of the compounds of the invention. Salts include pharmaceutically acceptable salts such as acid addition salts and basic salts. Examples of acid addition salts include hydrochloride salts, citrate salts and acetate salts. Examples of basic salts include salts where the cation is selected from alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, alkaline earth metals, such as calcium, and ammonium ions ⁺N(R³)₃(R⁴), where R³ and R⁴ independently designates optionally substituted C₁₋₆-alkyl, optionally substituted C₂₋₆-alkenyl, optionally substituted aryl, or optionally substituted heteroaryl. Other examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts are described in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences”, 17th edition. Ed. Alfonso R. Gennaro (Ed.), Mark Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., U.S.A., 1985 and more recent editions, and in the Encyclopaedia of Pharmaceutical Technology.

“Treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired clinical results. For the purposes of this invention, beneficial or desired clinical results include, but are not limited to, alleviation of symptoms, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable, “Treatment” can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival if not receiving treatment. “Treatment” is an intervention performed with the intention of preventing the development or altering the pathology of a disorder. Accordingly, “treatment” refers to both therapeutic treatment and prophylactic or preventative measures in certain embodiments. Those in need of treatment include those already with the disorder as well as those in which the disorder is to be prevented. By treatment is meant inhibiting or reducing an increase in pathology or symptoms (e.g. weight gain, hyperglycemia) when compared to the absence of treatment, and is not necessarily meant to imply complete cessation of the relevant condition.

The pharmaceutical compositions can be in unit dosage form. In such form, the composition is divided into unit doses containing appropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form can be a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities of the preparations, for example, packeted tablets, capsules, and powders in vials or ampoules. The unit dosage form can also be a capsule, cachet, or tablet itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of these packaged forms. It may be provided in single dose injectable form, for example in the form of a pen. In certain embodiments, packaged forms include a label or insert with instructions for use. Compositions may be formulated for any suitable route and means of administration. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents include those used in formulations suitable for oral, rectal, nasal, topical (including buccal and sublingual), vaginal or parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, intradermal, and transdermal) administration. The formulations may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form and may be prepared by any of the methods well known in the art of pharmacy.

Subcutaneous or transdermal modes of administration may be particularly suitable for the compounds described herein.

Compositions of the invention may further be compounded in, or attached to, for example through covalent, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, a drug carrier, drug delivery system and advanced drug delivery system in order to further enhance stability of the compound, increase bioavailability, increase solubility, decrease adverse effects, achieve chronotherapy well known to those skilled in the art, and increase patient compliance or any combination thereof. Examples of carriers, drug delivery systems and advanced drug delivery systems include, but are not limited to, polymers, for example cellulose and derivatives, polysaccharides, for example dextran and derivatives, starch and derivatives, polyvinyl alcohol), acrylate and methacrylate polymers, polylactic and polyglycolic acid and block co-polymers thereof, polyethylene glycols, carrier proteins, for example albumin, gels, for example, thermogelling systems, for example block co-polymeric systems well known to those skilled in the art, micelles, liposomes, microspheres, nanoparticulates, liquid crystals and dispersions thereof, L2 phase and dispersions there of, well known to those skilled in the art of phase behaviour in lipid-water systems, polymeric micelles, multiple emulsions, self-emulsifying, self-microemulsifying, cyclodextrins and derivatives thereof, and dendrimers.

Combination Therapy

A compound or composition of the invention may be administered as part of a combination therapy with an agent for treatment of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes.

In such cases, the two active agents may be given together or separately, and as part of the same pharmaceutical formulation or as separate formulations.

Thus a compound or composition of the invention can further be used in combination with an anti-obesity agent, including but not limited to a glucagon-like peptide receptor 1 agonist, peptide YY or analogue thereof, cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist, lipase inhibitor, melanocortin receptor 4 agonist, melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 antagonist, phentermine (alone or in combination with topiramate), a combination of norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor and opioid receptor antagonist (e.g. a combination of bupropion and naltrexone), or a serotonergic agent (e.g. lorcaserin).

A compound or composition of the invention can be used in combination with an anti-hypertension agent, including but not limited to an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin H receptor blocker, diuretics, beta-blocker, or calcium channel blocker.

A compound or composition of the invention can be used in combination with a dyslipidaemia agent, including but not limited to a statin, a fibrate, a niacin and/or a cholesterol absorbtion inhibitor.

Further, a compound or composition of the invention can be used in combination with an anti-diabetic agent, including but not limited to a biguanide (e.g. metformin), a sulfonylurea, a meglitinide or glinide (e.g. nateglinide), a DPP-IV inhibitor, an SGLT2 inhibitor, a glitazone, a different GLP-1 agonist, an insulin or an insulin analogue. In a preferred embodiment, the compound or salt thereof is used in combination with insulin or an insulin analogue, DPP-IV inhibitor, sulfonylurea or metformin, particularly sulfonylurea or metformin, for achieving adequate glycemic control. Examples of insulin analogues include but are not limited to Lantus, Novorapid, Humalog, Novomix, and Actraphane HM, Levemir and Apidra.

EXAMPLES Example 1: General Synthesis of Glucagon Analogues

Solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) was performed on a microwave assisted synthesizer using standard Fmoc strategy in NMP on a polystyrene resin (TentaGel S Ram). HATU was used as coupling reagent together with DIPEA as base. Piperidine (20% in NMP) was used for deprotection. Pseudoprolines: Fmoc-Phe-Thr(psiMe,Mepro)-OH and Fmoc-Asp-Ser(psiMe,Mepro)-OH (purchased from NovaBiochem) were used where applicable.

Abbreviations employed are as follows:

-   Boc: tert-butyloxycarbonyl -   ivDde: 1-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)-3-methyl-butyl -   Dde: 1-(4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene)-ethyl -   DCM: dichloromethane -   DMF: N,N-dimethylformamide -   DIPEA: diisopropylethylamine -   EDT: 1,2-ethanedithiol -   EtOH: ethanol -   Et₂O: diethyl ether -   HATU:     N-[(dimethylamino)-1H-1,2,3-triazol[4,5-b]pyridine-1-ylmethylene]-N-methylmethanaminium     hexafluorophosphate N-oxide -   MeCN: acetonitrile -   NMP: N-methylpyrrolidone -   TFA: trifluoroacetic acid -   TIS: triisopropylsilane     Cleavage:

The crude peptide was cleaved from the resin by treatment with 95/2.5/2.5% (v/v) TEAMS/water at room temperature (int.) for 2 hours. Most of the TFA was removed at reduced pressure and the crude peptide was precipitated and washed with diethylether and allowed to dry to constant weight at ambient temperature.

The following compounds were synthesised:

Com- pound no.  1 H-HAQGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  2 H-H-NMeSer-QGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  3 H-H-Ac3c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  4 H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  5 H-HSHGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  6 H-HAHGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  7 H-H-DAla-HGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  8 H-H-Ac3c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂  9 H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDS-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAHDFVEWLLSA-NH₂ 10 H-H-Abu-QGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 11 H-HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 12 H-H-DAla-QGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 13 H-HPQGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 14 H-H-Ac4c-QGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 15 H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 16 H-Y-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂ 17 H-H-Aib-QGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl- isoGlu)-AAKDFIEWLEEE-NH₂

The K(Hexadecanoyl-isoGlu) modification is described above.

Example 2: Glucagon Receptor and GLP-1-Receptor Efficacy Assays

The cDNA encoding either the human glucagon receptor (Glucagon-R) (primary accession number P47871) or the human glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) (primary accession number P43220) were synthesized and cloned into a mammalian expression vector containing a Zeocin resistance marker.

The mammalian expression vectors encoding the Glucagon-R or the GLP-1-R were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by the Attractene method. Stably expressing clones were obtained by Zeocin selection (260 μg/mL) upon limited dilution of cells resistant to the selection pressure. Cell clones expressing Glucagon-R and GLP-1-R were picked, propagated and tested in the Glucagon-R and GLP-1-R efficacy assays as described below. One Glucagon-R expressing clone and one GLP-1-R expressing clone were chosen for compound profiling.

CHO cells expressing the human Glucagon-R, or human GLP-1-R were seeded 24 hours prior to the assay at 30,000 cells per well in 96-well microtiter plates in culture in 100 μl growth medium. On the day of analysis, growth medium was removed and the cells were washed once with 200 μl of assay buffer (Krebs-Ringer-buffer—KRBH). The buffer was removed and the cells were incubated for 15 min at room temperature in 10 μl KRBH (KRBH 10 mM HEPES, 5 mM NaHCO3, 0.1% (V/V) BSA) with 0.1 mM IBMX in deionized water containing increasing concentrations of test peptides. The reaction was stopped by the addition of lysis buffer (0.1% w/v BSA, 5 mM HEPES, 0.3% v/v Tween-20). After cell lysis for 10 min at room temperature, lysates were transferred to 384-well plates and 10 μl of acceptor/donorbead mixture as contained in the AlphaScreen™ cAMP Functional Assay Kit was added. After one hour of incubation at room temperature in the dark, the cAMP content was determined applying the AlphaScreen™ cAMP Functional Assay Kit from Perkin-Elmer according to manufacturer instructions. EC₅₀ and relative efficacies compared to reference compounds (glucagon and GLP-1) were calculated applying computer aided curve fitting. The GLP-1/glucagon ratio is calculated as defined earlier. See Table 1.

TABLE 1 EC50 EC50 hGCGR hGLP-1R Ratio Compound CHO-K1 [nM] CHO-K1 [nM] GLP-1/Glucagon 1 0.23 nM 0.52 nM 2.26 2 0.24 nM 0.92 nM 3.83 3 0.62 nM 0.29 nM 0.47 4 0.12 nM 0.31 nM 2.59 5 0.12 nM 0.27 nM 2.25 6 0.83 nM 0.62 nM 0.75 7 0.60 nM 0.35 nM 0.58 8 1.82 nM 0.24 nM 0.13 9 0.20 nM 0.33 nM 1.65 10 0.10 nM 0.27 nM 2.7 11 0.69 nM 0.14 nM 0.11 12 1.27 nM 0.14 nM 0.11 13 3.19 nM 0.21 nM 0.07 14 18.34 nM  0.68 nM 0.04 15 0.10 nM 0.23 nM 2.3 16 0.20 nM 0.43 nM 2.15 17 0.08 nM 0.27 nM 3.38

Example 3: Agonistic Activity on Endogenous GLP-1 Receptor

Agonistic activity of the test compounds on endogenous GLP-1 receptors was determined using a murine insulinoma cell line. Intracellular cAMP was used as an indicator of receptor activation.

Cells were cultured for 24 h at a density of 10,000 cells/well in a 384-well plate. Medium was removed and 10 μL KRBH buffer (NaCl 130 mM, KCl 3.6 mM, NaH₂PO₄ 0.5 mM, MgSO₄ 0.5 mM, CaCl₂ 1.5 mM) containing test compound or GLP-1 (at increasing concentrations from 0.1 pM to 100 nM) or solvent control (0.1% (v/v) DMSO) was added to the wells for 15 minutes at a temperature of 26° C.

The cellular cAMP content is measured using the AlphaScreen cAMP Functional Assay Kit (Perkin Elmer). Measurement was performed using the Envision (Perkin Elmer) according to manufacturer's recommendations.

All measurements were performed in quadruplicate.

Results were converted into cAMP concentrations using a cAMP standard curve prepared in KRBH buffer containing 0.1% (v/v) DMSO. The resulting cAMP curves were plotted as absolute cAMP concentrations (nM) over log (test compound concentration) and analyzed using the curve fitting program XLfit.

Parameters calculated to describe the both the potency as well as the agonistic activity of each test compound on the endogenous GLP-1 receptors were:

pEC50 (negative logarithmic value of EC50, a concentration resulting in a half-maximal elevation of cAMP levels, reflecting the potency of the test compound);

Percent control (% CTL)(% cAMP elevation for each test compound concentration normalized based on the GLP-1-induced maximum cAMP response (100% CTL)). See Table 2.

TABLE 2 Compound EC50 [nM] 1 0.12 nM 2 0.52 nM 3 0.27 nM 4 0.32 nM 5 0.35 nM 6 0.40 nM 7 0.30 nM 8 0.24 nM 9 0.21 nM 10 0.09 nM 11 0.29 nM 12 0.23 nM 13 0.14 nM 14 0.13 nM 15 0.59 nM 16 0.66 nM 17 0.21 nM

Example 4: Agonistic Activity on Endogenous Glucagon Receptor

Agonistic activity of the test compounds on endogenous glucagon receptor was determined by measuring their effect on rate of glycogen synthesis in primary rat hepatocytes. Upon activation of the glucagon receptor, an inhibition of the glycogen synthesis rate is expected. Rate of glycogen synthesis was determined by counting the amount of radioactively labeled glucose incorporated into the cellular glycogen stores in a defined period of time.

Primary rat hepatocytes were cultured at a density of 40,000 cells/well in a 24-well plate for 24 hours at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.

Medium was discarded and the cells washed with PBS. 180 μL of KRBH-based buffer containing 0.1% BSA and glucose at a concentration of 22.5 mM was then added to the wells, followed by test compound and 40 μCi/ml D-[U14C] glucose (20 μL each). Incubation was continued for 3 hours.

At the end of the incubation period, the incubation buffer was aspirated and cells washed once with ice-cold PBS before lysis by incubation for 30 min at room temperature with 100 μL 1 mol/l NaOH.

Cell lysates were transferred to 96-well filter plates and glycogen precipitated by incubating the filter-plates for 120 min at 4° C. followed by washing the filter plates 4 times with ice-cold ethanol (70%). The resulting precipitates were filtered to dryness and the amount of incorporated ¹⁴C-glucose determined by using a Topcount scintillation counter according to manufacturer's recommendations.

Wells with vehicle controls (0.1% (v/v) DMSO in KRBH buffer) were included as reference for non-inhibited glycogen synthesis (100% CTL). Wells without added D-[U¹⁴C] glucose were included as controls for non-specific background signal (subtracted from all values). Endogenous glucagon peptide was used as a positive control.

All treatments were performed at least in triplicates.

Parameters calculated to describe both the potency as well as the agonistic activity of each test compound on the endogenous glucagon receptor are pEC50 and % CTL.

% CTL is determined by calculating the percentage of CPM/well in the presence of the test compound compared to the CPM/well of the vehicle control after subtracting the background CPM/well: [CPM/well(basal)−CPM/well(sample)]*100 [CPM/well(basal)−CPM/well(control)]

An activator of the glucagon receptor will result in an inhibition of the glycogen synthesis rate and will give % CTL values between 0% CTL (complete inhibition) and 100% CTL (no observable inhibition).

The resulting activity curves were plotted as absolute counts (unit: cpm/sample) over log (test compound concentration) and analyzed using the curve fitting program XLfit.

pEC50 (negative logarithmic value of EC50) reflects the potency of the test compound.

TABLE 3 Compound EC50 [nM] 1 1.30 nM 2 5.40 nM 3 3.27 nM 4 0.37 nM 5 0.75 nM 6 0.87 nM 7 0.28 nM 8 1.18 nM 9 0.07 nM 10 2.75 nM 11 0.59 nM 12 0.23 nM 13 4.00 nM 14 0.06 nM 15 0.05 nM 16 0.16 nM 17 2.26 nM

The terms EC₅₀ and pEC₅₀ quoted in relation to Glucagon-R activation could equally be regarded as IC₅₀ and pIC₅₀ in relation to glycogen synthesis. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of improving glycemic control, lowering circulating LDL levels, increasing HDL/LDL ratio, inhibiting weight gain, or promoting weight loss in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound having the formula: R¹—X—R² wherein R¹ is H (i.e. hydrogen), C₁₋₄ alkyl, acetyl, formyl, benzoyl or trifluoroacetyl; R² is OH or NH₂; X is a peptide having the sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 15) H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl-isoGlu)- AAKDFIEWLESA;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof is in need of weight loss.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof is in need of lowering circulating LDL levels, and/or increasing HDL/LDL ratio.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof has a condition caused or characterized by excess body weight.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject in need thereof has obesity, morbid obesity, morbid obesity prior to surgery, obesity linked inflammation, obesity linked gallbladder disease, obesity induced sleep apnea, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, atherogenic dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, coronary heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke or microvascular disease.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises administering to the subject the compound as part of a combination therapy together with an agent for treatment of diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia or hypertension.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method comprises administering the compound with an agent for treatment of diabetes is selected from the group consisting of a biguanide, a sulfonylurea, a meglitinide or glinide, a DPP-IV inhibitor, an SGLT2 inhibitor, a glitazone, a different GLP-1 agonist, an insulin, and an insulin analogue.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the method comprises administering the compound with an agent for treatment of obesity is selected from the group consisting of a glucagon-like peptide receptor 1 agonist, a peptide YY receptor agonist or analogue thereof, a cannabinoid receptor 1 antagonist, a lipase inhibitor, a melanocortin receptor 4 agonist, a melanin concentrating hormone receptor 1 antagonist, phentermine, a combination of phentermine and topiramate, a combination of norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibitor and opioid receptor antagonist, and a serotonergic agent.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the method comprises administering the compound with an agent for treatment of hypertension selected from the group consisting of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, a diuretic, a beta-blocker, and a calcium channel blocker.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the method comprises administering the compound with an agent for treatment of dyslipidemia selected from the group consisting of a statin, a fibrate, a niacin, and a cholesterol absorption inhibitor.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is: (SEQ ID NO: 15) H-H-Ac4c-HGTFTSDYSKYLDE-K(Hexadecanoyl-isoGlu)- AAKDFIEWLESA-NH₂. 